Windows 8 ... Wow.

[coffee]

Same thing they were thinking with Unity I guess. Thats the main reason I switched to Mint.

Yep. I have also removed Ubuntu Desktop and run mint 14 in a VM. I do use ubuntu 12.04 server though but with LXDE desktop

 

[mraikes]

..snipped..
Stop.... complaining. Even without this Windows 8 is far from complicated

Yeah, it's complicated.

com·pli·cat·ed   [kom-pli-key-tid] adjective

1.composed of elaborately interconnected parts; complex: "complicated apparatus for measuring brain functions."

2.difficult to analyze, understand, explain, etc.: "a complicated problem."

 

[slash]

"At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed 10,000 men to guard the past." - Count Maurice Maeterlinck

With any new idea, or in this case new tech, there is a bit hesitance towards coming to terms with it. I saw some mentions towards Ubuntu's Unity and Gnome 3 and how well that was received. MATE was developed to keep Gnome 2's UI relevant for users that were used to it [myself included]. For most of these users, it was a welcomed relief that we had the option to develop our own UI. Unfortunately, end-users of any proprietary OS don't have this option and are forced to use whatever is offered.

So far, none of my clients have requested upgrades to Windows 8, although some have asked about. I tell them to use whatever is comfortable for them and any new technology takes a little time to learn. I have no problem helping them adapt to Windows 8 as long as I earn revenue and can provide great service.

I agree that it was a good business decision for Microsoft to implement something that can be used across multiple devices to stay competitive with Apple. I also like seeing the *nix crowd starting to really up their market share and offer some pretty amazing OS and apps.

I'm not trying to be Mr. Positive, but why not? There's a lot of exciting tech out there. I'm not intimidated by it at all.

Best of luck to everyone during this difficult time.

 

[NYJimbo]

"At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed 10,000 men to guard the past." - Count Maurice Maeterlinck

This is the only reason that Microsoft BOB failed.

 

[slash]

This is the only reason that Microsoft BOB failed.

I was in the 3rd grade. I was happy with the upgrade from 3.x to 95. But what did I know back then. I just wanted to play Doom!

Also, http://betanews.com/2012/08/31/windows-8-suffers-from-the-microsoft-bob-effect/. To fan the flames, I guess.

 

[Wheelie]

.... Also, http://betanews.com/2012/08/31/windows-8-suffers-from-the-microsoft-bob-effect/. To fan the flames, I guess.

Too funny!! Forgot all about Bob.

.

 

[gunslinger]

With any new idea, or in this case new tech, there is a bit hesitance towards coming to terms with it. I saw some mentions towards Ubuntu's Unity and Gnome 3 and how well that was received. MATE was developed to keep Gnome 2's UI relevant for users that were used to it [myself included]. For most of these users, it was a welcomed relief that we had the option to develop our own UI. Unfortunately, end-users of any proprietary OS don't have this option and are forced to use whatever is offered.

What I seen happen with Unity was a very large chunk of the Ubuntu guys going to other distros. Myself included. What I seen happen with Vista was a large shift to Mac, myself included. The last thing Microsoft wants is people to start trying other OSs. Yet that is exactly what stupid moves like this does.


Also, Microsoft did a great job getting the word out about Win8. They failed miserably telling people how it was better than Win7. Windows 7 is the greatest OS Microsoft has ever put out. When you have a product that good and are coming out with something new you had better be able to tell people what it can do better for them. No one has or can simply because it can't do anything better than Win7 or even as well.

 

[AdvancedTech]

I agree Gunslinger...they should have provided options at time of install...is this a tablet or PC?...They just love to shove their tech down our throats. Having said that it will probably be a success despite this and this will just encourage this behavior in the future....Windows 9 I shudder to think.

 

[coffee]

With any new idea, or in this case new tech, there is a bit hesitance towards coming to terms with it.

Which has nothing to do with the acceptance of win8 metro desktop, Gnome3, or Unity.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I have no problems adapting to new technology. I have Galaxy Nexus phone, Asus Nexus tablet, a Roku. I criticize techs who blast Windows Vista because IMO most do so out of rote and not actual use of the product. Windows 8 is the first Microsoft OS in about 12 years that I haven't immediate put on my main machine as soon as it came out. The last one I skipped was Windows ME.

Experts in GUI design have issues with Windows 8
http://ow.ly/fwJeP

and

http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2012/05/fear-and-loathing-and-windows-8.html

 

[Cornerstone Technologies]

The only think I like at the moment about Windows 8 is the app store. However, Microsoft is pretty late to the game with this idea, as usual.

 

[Galdorf]

Talked to 2 of my suppliers in Toronto today they have boxes of windows 8 but have not sold any yet, does not look good unless they change windows 8 to allow either UI and restore windows to windows it will flop hard.

This is 2012 why could they have not created windows 8 with customizable UI so you can have it your way.

 

[Mendija's Repair]

Having used Windows 8 for the first time recently...I gotta say that I don't like it. They've over-complicated the interface. For techs like us, it is not too hard to figure it out. But for the average computer user? It's irritating. I had a customer calling me asking how to shut the computer down and commented, "Why did they change the look?". Point is, the vast majority of Windows users are familiar with the Windows interface that has been in use since the 90's. I believe they have made a BIG mistake trying to copy Apple. Like it was said earlier, they should have at least provided an option to use the older interface.

 

[brock029]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81p6sglKqHg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

"And the best thing about what you see here is that everything works with everything else. In other words, it's a system. But a system that's no big deal to use. Look, with any computer you have to learn a few new things." - Alan Alda

 

[mr m]

MS claims 40 million Win 8 licenses sold. I doubt it. Or they failed to mention the 39 million system returns.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...5096a6-39be-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html

So far 3 clients returned their Win 8 PC's out of pure anger and frustration. I had them go online and buy Win 7 refurbished units.

Another guy calls because he can't install his wireless, networked printer to his new Win 8 notebook using a Win 7 install disc. I go there and use the "add a printer" feature. Thankfully the OS had the driver built in. He wasted half a day trying to run the install disc. I will admit it joined his Homegroup without much effort on my part and I didn't have to deal with waiting for hundreds of MB's of HP crapware to install.

 

[gunslinger]

I believe they have made a BIG mistake trying to copy Apple. Like it was said earlier, they should have at least provided an option to use the older interface.

The thing is every time they have tried to copy Apple they get it so wrong. The reason is a basic lack of understanding the people they are making the OS for. When I made the switch from Windows on my main machine to OS X it took me a few days to get use to. After that I looked back at Windows and wondered WTF were they thinking doing it that way? This make much more sense. Take launchpad. Its a nice quick way of launching apps. But, if you don't want to use it, you never have to. Its hidden nicely out of the way. It would have taken Microsoft about two hours to do the same thing with the so called "modern IU". Modern my ass! It looks like something right out of Windows 95. Now I'm seeing other software creators try to mimic this look. Its horrible. Anyone use Yahoo mail lately? It looked pretty good about a month ago, then they decided to go with the "modern UI" now it looks like something a 5 grader threw together in notepad.

 

[joydivision]

For my parents Christmas present I decided to build them for first new PC they have ever had since 1993! The rest of their systems have been bits of second hand parts (mostly my cast off motherboards and processors).

I built them a very basic system compromising of an Intel G550 processor, a 500GB HD and 4GB of RAM. I put on Vista as I had a spare retail key, but I was not happy at all how it ran, so I then did the £25 upgrade to get a Windows 8 key. The difference in performance between Vista SP2 and 8 was staggering.

My parents are in their late 50's early 60's and it took them about an hour to get used to Windows 8. I will be personally upgrading my office system which runs Vista to it in the new year.

Yes the interface is very different, it is staggering different but it doesn't take long to get used to once you know where everything is, you don't even need to use Metro.

Is it an improvement on Windows 7? I am not sure but I think it is the way forward.

 

[BryanLee]

I bought a few Windows 8 licenses a month or so ago. I imaged my laptop and upgraded both mine and my wife's computers. I used it for about a week and didn't care for it too much. Not because it was too hard or even because it didn't support my hardware or software. I just didn't like it. My wife on the other hand really likes it. I haven't gotten any questions about how to do things at all. She isn't tech savvy at all so I really did expect questions.

It seems to me that the real issues come from the people who are actually more tech savvy. These also are the people who normally write reviews or make YouTube review saying that they hate it. These people are not the meat and potatoes of the Microsoft market share.

I think that it will probably turn out to be a win for Microsoft.

 

[joydivision]

I think that sums it up nicely, all the people I have seen moan about it are techs. My parents are simply experienced users (we have had a Windows PC since 1993) who are not all tech savvie if that makes sense. The fact even my dad is that there happily using Windows 8 when he can't even work the TV remote control says it all

 

[gunslinger]

I think that it will probably turn out to be a win for Microsoft.

I'll take that bet. We are not gonna base it on how many licenses are sold either, instead how many actual copies of the disc were downloaded or bought. This will quickly deflate the artificially high numbers Microsoft is tossing around due to it coming pre-installed on new machines.